Trussed-sheet construction



Sept. l, 1936. J. o. MAblsoN 2,052,984

TRUSSED SHEET CONSTRUQTION Filed Apri125, 1954 g nger-we Patented Sept. l, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUSSED- SHEET CONSTRUCTION John 0. Madison, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Jennie M. Madison execntrix of said John 0. Madison,

deceased Ihis invention relates to trussed-sheet structures designed to withstand heavy loads or stresses. 'Ihe invention has reference especially to certain improvements in or modifications of the invention disclosed in my Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,277,622, dated September 3, 1918, for trussed sheet building material, which patent describes a trussed-sheet structure embodying two sheets, preferably of steel, constituting the outer chord members of the trussed construction. These sheets are arranged in spaced relation and are rigidly connected by intermediate web members composed of integral projections or depressions formed on one or both sheets and separated from each other laterally and longitudinallly in staggered relation, such projections or depressions being of a depth many times the thickness of the sheet in order to produce a trussing effect. The structure supports suitable covering material.

'I'he principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple and emcient trussed-sheet floor construction having ample inherent resiliency to absorb shocks, dampen vibrations and prevent the transmission of sound.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a construction having novel provision for anchoring a superposed body of covering material.

With these objects in view my invention comprises a trussed-sheet metal flooring construction embodying shock insulating cushions interposed between the two spaced sheets, which cushions are seated against the apices of the depressions of one or both sheets.

My invention also comprises such a trussed flooring construction wherein nuts or heads on connecting devices for the truss sheets and cushions are seated in the respective depressions of the upper sheet and are shaped to afford efilcient anchorage for the covering material on the upper sheet.

The invention also comprises features of novelty which, in a preferred form or forms, will be hereinafter described, the scope of the invention then being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a trussed-sheet flooring structure embodying the principle of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure, partly in section, the covering material being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified construction.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of another modification.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In the improved ilooring construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the upper and lower metal sheets 5 and 6, respectively, constitute the compression and tension chord members of the trussed structure. Each of these'sheets is formed with permanent integral depressions l, preferably of elongated formation, constituting webs, spaced laterally and longitudinally in staggered relation, the depth of the respective depressions being many times the thickness of the sheet material sufilcient to produce a strong trussing effect. The two sheets, which may if desired be formed with reinforcing or strengthening ribs, are arranged in spaced relation with the apices of the depressions of one sheet in line centrally with but spaced somewhat from the apices of the corresponding depressions of the other sheet. Interposed between the apices of each pair of opposing depressions is a resilient cushion 8, preferably of rubber, which cushion and the respective sheets are held together by a suitable connecting device which in the form illustrated comprises a vertically-disposed tie-bolt 9 extending through aligning apertures in the apices of the complementary depressions and in the intermediate cushion. The upper threaded end of each bolt stem is equipped with a nut I 0 which is seated on the floor of the upper depression, and hence by proper manipulation of the bolt head beneath the lower sheet the two sheets can be eiiectually clamped against the interposed cushion in a manner to effect the compression of the latter to any predetermined extent to meet the particular location and service requirements of the flooring construction.

The bolt nuts I0 herein shown are of T-formation, each nut having a threaded body I I terminating in a cross-head I2. The formation of the nut is such that when it is applied to the threaded upper .end of the bolt, the head I2 of the nut lies within and transversely of. the depression and flush, or substantially so, with the outer surface of the sheet 5. The aperture in the apex of each of the depressions 'I of the lower sheet 6 is of sufficient size to permit free vertical movement within limits of the lower end of the bolt in respect to the latter sheet in order to permit the requisite compression and expansion of the cushion.

In the construction hereinbefore described embodying metal sheets constituting the compression and tension chord members thereof, the depressions of the compression member, together with the cushions and the means extending therethrough for securing the said members to each other and retaining the cushions under compression, form between the compression and tension members of the structure, true web members which transmit shear stresses from one chord member to another.

The upper surface of the sheet 5 is provided with a layer of suitable covering material, such, for example, as concrete I 3, which when it is applied to the trussed sheet structure enters the various spaced-apart depressions of the sheet 5 and is therein eiectively anchored by interlocking engagement with the heads of the T-nuts. Since the nuts are embedded in the covering material the accidental turning or displacement of the nuts is prevented.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a. lmodiiled form of the invention wherein the depressions l are formed in the upper sheet only, the lower sheet being illustrated as a plain sheet suitably perforated at intervals for the passage of the adjusting bolts 9 which tie together the two sheets and the interposed cushions 8, which latter rest upon the lower sheet and are in bearing contact with the apices of the depressions of the upper sheet.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown another modication wherein the depressions 1 are also formed in the upper sheet only, and wherein the cushions 8 comprise angularly cut resilient sections of a spring-steel tube. The larger or base portion of each section rest upon and are welded or otherwise fastened to the lower sheet 6 while the apex of the section is secured by a rivet 90 to the apex of the opposing depression 1. The base of each resilient section is perforated, as at I4, for the insertion of a suitable riveting tool. Each of the rivets is provided with an upwardly extending T- shank |20 which affords an eiiicient anchorage for the covering material I3 which is seated in the" depression.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention provides a durable and economical trussed-sheet iiooring construction which is capable of withstanding heavy loads or stresses, and which construction is not only fire-proof and heat-insulating but it possesses throughout its load-bearing area ample elasticity to absorb shocks, dampen vibrations and prevent the transmission of sound.

' I claim:

1. A trussed flooring structure adapted to withstand heavy loads or stresses, comprising two spaced apart metal sheets constituting the compression and tension chord members of the truss, each sheet formed with permanent integral depressions spaced laterally and longitudinally, and the apices of the depressions of one sheet opposed to and spaced from those of the other sheet, resilient shock insulating cushions compressed to a predetermined degree interposed between the opposing apices of the depressions of the two sheets, and connecting devices for the two sheets passing through said apices and the interposed cushions, for retaining the cushions under compression, whereby horizontal shear stresses are transferred from one sheet to the other.

2. A trussed ooring structure adapted to withstand heavy loads or stresses, comprising two spaced metal sheets constituting the compression and tension chord members of the truss, each sheet formed with inwardly projecting integral depressions spaced laterally and longitudinally in staggered relation, and the apices of the depressions of one sheet opposed to and spaced from those of the other sheet, resilient shock insulating cushions compressed to a predetermined degree interposed between the sheets in bearing contact with the opposing apices of the depressions of the respective sheets, and bolts passing through the sheets and the cushions for retaining the cushions under compression, whereby horizontal shear stresses are transferred from one sheet to the other.

3. A trussed ooring structure adapted to withstand heavy loads or stresses, comprising two spaced metal sheets constituting the compres-r sion and tension chord members of the truss, the compression member formed with inwardly projecting integral depressions spaced laterally and longitudinally, resilient shock insulating cushions compressed to a predetermined degree interposed between the sheets and in bearing contact with the apices of the depressions, and means extending through each depression and its contacting cushion connecting said sheets to each other to compress the cushions to transfer horizontal shear stresses between the upper and lower sheets.

4. A trussed ooring structure adapted to withstand heavy loads or stresses, comprising two spaced metal sheets constituting the compression and tension chord members of the truss, the compression member formed with inwardly projecting integral depressions spaced laterally and longitudinally, resilient shock insulating cushions compressed to a predetermined degree interposed between the sheets and in bearing contact with the apices of the depressions, and connecting devices for the sheets and cushions having head members seated in the proximate depressions, for retaining the cushions under compression, whereby horizontal shear stresses are transferred from one sheet to the other.

5. A trussed flooring structure adapted to withstand heavy loads or stresses, comprising two spaced metal sheets constituting the compression and tension chord members of the truss, the compression member formed with inwardly projecting integral depressions spaced laterally and 1ongitudinally, resilient shock insulating cushions compressed to a predetermined degree interposed between the sheets and in bearing contact with the apices of the depressions, means connecting the opposing sheets and extending through the respective cushions, said means including locking members seated in the proximate depressions, for retaining the cushions under compression, whereby horizontal shear stresses are transferred from one sheet to the other, and a layer ot material covering the sheet having the depressions in which the locking members are seated, said material lling the depressions and engaging the locking members.

6. A trussed iiooring structure adapted to withstand heavy loads or stresses, comprising two spaced metal sheets constituting the compression and tension chord members of the truss, the compression member formed with inwardly projecting integral depressions spaced laterally and longitudinally, resilient shock insulating cushions compressed to a predetermined degree interposed between the tension member and the apices of the depressions of the compression member, bolts connecting the opposing chord members and extending through the respective cushions, said bolts having T-head nuts seated in the depressions for retaining the cushions under compression, whereby horizontal shear stresses are transferred from .one sheet to the other, a layer of material covering the compression member in which the nuts are seated, said material lling the depressions and engaging the under sides of the cross bar of the nuts.

JOHN O. MADISON. 

